Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-01
WOMAN GOSSIP
Mrs. Lothrop's Methods of Work and Her
Life IN Hawthorne's Old Home at Con-
ord A Southern Heroine's Bravery.
Nlnrgaret sidney.

lie called, Mrs. Lothrop, was born TO a
literay career. saws writer in The
Boston Record. A member of family
remarkable for their love of letters,
although none of them are writers, her
earl est recollectons are of hiding be-
meath the table and behind the chairs.
where she wrote the most wonder
.ui fairy tales. These were no sooner
completed than they were consigned to
the flames. Thus Throughout her
childhood she was constantly writing
and destroying because of conscious
ness of the crudeness of her work. At
Length the story of the Give Little
Peppers" seemed to be worthy to see
the light and it was given to the
world. Margaret Sidney then became
known TO the world at once rs an au-
dior of repute. Subsequent writings
have not dimmed the reputation thus
won.
Mrs. Lothrop, in her literary work,
from the force of circumstances, can
not be said to follow a well-delined
system. Yet there is much about her
method that is of interest. Her time
is SO closely occupied with a multitude
of social duties that it is often a matter
OF wonder to her friends that she sue
ceeds in finding the necessary time in
which to perform her literary work.
But she has remarkable faculty of
the concentration of mind, and, when
walk NJ or driving, or in the midst OF
graver duties, suggestions for stories
and sketches often come into her mind,
which in the next odd moment find
their way upon paper.
Not only is much of Mrs. Lothrop's
time consumed in social duties, but
work on the executive boards of various
charities occupies much of her attention.
| Here, too, does her taste for literary
work find much employment. Her pen
is frequently busy in the production of
papers in the interest of the cause Of
IN >sions, the sunday school, and cdu-
cationa and literary circles. In this
work, which is wholly labor of love.
without reward except such as comes
/ from consciousness of wrll-doing.
Mr.. Lothrop takes great delight. and
always responds 10 all demands upon
her pen. to the exclusion even of work
which might add to her literary reputa-
/ ton.
1t is not tile curious that, strong
n are many Of Mrs. Loihrop's char
acters none Of them ares ketchcs from
! life, bat are rather portra {, of types of
human nature An example of this is
seen in Judith Pettibonc strong.
decisive character. who Is seen still
in many "A New England country
home. Tie race which found its
inception among puritan settlers,
gifted with strong common sense, a
rigid regard for the right according to
| biblical rule. tender cou,r.rnr... and u
large heart TO feel for huWll III, ha,
| bv no means become ext net soften
filming influences of city ic VIII ca now
extend to the most remote hlmletS. the
Jud tbs of to-day have Lost he quaint
dialect which d stjnguishe ia IA a
century ago. Indeed. Mrs. Lothrop's
judith herself IN, felt this refining in
/ flucncc iet the sturdy puritan flavor
fingers about these New England types
of character.
1t 5 TO the study of types. then, that
Mrs. Lothrop devotes herself, and not
to the task of photographing before
] the view of her readers the character
istics OF especial persons who may have
attracted her attention.
/ In her poet cal work Mrs. Lothrop
works with extreme care an. caution.
An idea for a poem suggests itself to
! her mind In a nebulous form alone
( it first appears. Little by Little, rs her
mind dSellS upon it. the form appears
more distinct and fully defined. In a
stray moment it is committed to paper;
hurrdly, perhaps. and laid aside for
a few days. Then. when the glow of
composition has passed away. the poem
is brought out, trimmed. pruned, and
polished and again laid away for a
time. Again and again is this process
repeated, until after, perhaps the tenth
revis on she regards the poem as final
ly complete, and passes it to the pub
lsher's hands.
An interesting fact in connec ton
with Mrs. Lothrop, from literary
point of view. is that she makes her
home in spot sacred to the purest and
best in Amer can letters. A few years
AGO it was announced that THE Way
side. - the home OF Hawthorne, at Con-
cord, was offered for sale. But few
hours had passed after the announce
ment was made before it became the
property of Mr.. Lothrop. Here with
his gifted wife and their little daughter,
Mr.. LothroD makes his home during